Jedburgh Public Library

About Jedburgh Public Library

This building replaced the 1884 public library on High Street. It was completed in 1900 to the designs of George Washington Browne who also designed public libraries in Kelso and Edinburgh. Andrew Carnegie and his wife returned to Jedburgh in May 1900 to open it.
The building is reminiscent of grand 16th century Scottish architecture and is not at all out of place here. Above the doorway there is a carved panel which says “LET THERE BE LIGHT”. The ground floor is built on a raised basement and is reached by a set of six steps. The library has a wonderful arched window which occupies a large proportion of the front wall, allowing light to flood into the building. The librarian was originally provided with a flat above the library but this was converted some years ago to provide offices for the Registrar.